Former footballer's son jailed after attacking woman

Joni Hartson was jailed for two years and six months after attacking a woman 33 times

The son of a former footballer has been jailed for punching a female retired detective 33 times - leaving her with a bleed on the brain.

Joni Hartson, 22, the son of former Arsenal, Celtic and Wales player turned TV pundit John Hartson, attacked former royal protection officer Dawn Lloyd on 18 October 2024.

Cardiff Crown Court heard on Thursday that after the attack Hartson admitted "I wish I had killed her".

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke jailed Hartson for two years and six months for the "planned and premeditated attack."

Hartson and Miss Lloyd, 67, were both patients on a hospital ward when the 22-year-old targeted her because of her age and lured her into the back garden.

Prosecutor Alex Orndal said: "It is estimated there was approximately 33 strikes by the defendant. Miss Lloyd is described as not doing anything other than raising her arms to protect herself in that footage."

The court heard Hartson, who is autistic, was a patient at Bryngofal Ward in the Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli.

He had not been sectioned at the time of the attack but was in hospital due to suicidal thoughts.

Mr Orndal said Hartson told officers his "anger came out" when he lured Miss Lloyd into the garden because he knew she was an "easy target".

He said: "I led her outside and told her to stand still and punched her ten times to the head."

The court heard Miss Lloyd was a former detective who had served for 17 years in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

In a victim impact statement, her sister said Miss Lloyd was regularly called upon to work with the royal protection team and later went on to be an office manager working on the Queen's Jubilee.

Her sister said: "Dawn served diligently and with compassion."

The court heard Miss Lloyd was suffering from confusion due to an autoimmune condition when she was admitted to the mental health unit at the hospital.

Interim ward manager Hannah Cox said Miss Lloyd's "demeanour has completely changed" following the attack.

The court heard she had become very anxious and worried and scared of loud noises, including doors slamming.

Miss Cox said she was unable to form coherent sentences but does say: "He's not going to hit me again."

The court heard Hartson also attacked a healthcare worker days later - punching his arm after he was moved to a hospital in Carmarthen.

Defending Owen Williams said Hartson was depressed at the time with suicidal thoughts and "possible hallucinations which were commanding in nature".

Hartson, who had no diagnosis of psychosis, pleaded guilty to GBH and assault of an emergency worker.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: "You selected Miss Lloyd because you could see that she was vulnerable.

"You used those vulnerabilities to select her as a target. You deliberately chose someone who would quite obviously be unable to resist."